BOOKS, fanzines and other good reads...
TEENAGE KICKS by Michael Bradley (Omnibus.) Alongside Andrew Matheson’s ‘Sick On You’, this is one of the most entertaining music biographies that I’ve ever read. Mickey Bradley has a great style of writing that really captures the spirit of the band and their music. Telling the tale of the Undertones from his own perspective, he manages to cover the highs and lows of their original career, from childhood through to the end of the band in 1983. It’s great fun and totally unpretentious, with no delusions about their naivety and peculiarities, although, of course, it was those quirks that were such an important characteristic of the band. They wrote awesome songs, but you never though they were anything other than a bunch of mates having a good time. In some ways perhaps that worked against them, especially as their music developed, but the band themselves could only ever be themselves. The stories about growing up in Derry during the Seventies are also intriguing, giving a down-to-earth impression of what life was like there at the time, without lingering on the Troubles. Some may be surprised that there is no negativity towards Feargal and, in fact, the camaraderie between all members of the band is something that really stands out. I would, perhaps, have liked a further chapter about the eventual reunion of the band, but at the same time, the book covers the story of the original five members so succinctly, maybe that would have been a distraction. Either way, this is a great account of a deservedly respected band and I’m sure it will be fun whether you’re a fan or not. But you really should be…
NEVER KNOWN QUESTIONS – Five Decades of The Residents, by Ian Shirley (Cherry Red Books) Ian Shirley originally wrote a book about The Residents (‘Meet The Residents’) in 1994. This volume is not merely an updated version but a completely re-written volume, including new and updated material as well as brand new interviews. Much like The Residents themselves, Ian Shirley took his original work and ‘RMX’ed it to provide a more valid, contemporary statement. Alongside the recent ‘Theory of Obscurity’ documentary, this is probably as definitive an article you will ever find about a band whose very nature is to be undefinable. It provides you with as many facts as you’ll ever need to know about the Eyeballed-Ones and doesn’t concern itself with identities or individual characters. It’s the work that counts, not the private lives, and whilst there are many collaborators and allies who are able to elaborate on the ideas and concepts, the band themselves are happy enough to present their work and let the audience arrive at their own conclusions. Ian Shirley clearly understands this and presents the details in an appropriate, complimentary way. I’m sure there will be further books about The Residents, but I very much doubt that any will ever reach a better understanding of the subject than this.
4 MINUTE WARNING #14 (£2.00 + SAE from Mitch Elsden, 31 Fir Grove, Marton, Blackpool, FY1 6PJ.) One of my favourite current fanzines, more because of the total enthusiasm you’ll find on every page than anything else (and there’s plenty of decent bands and articles covered as well.) It’s unashamedly DIY punk rock, but that’s what makes it fun and interesting. No excuses, it just gets on with what it wants to be doing. Lots of interviews (including TV Smith, 36 Strategies, Chaos UK and One Way System, amongst others) loads of reviews and other articles. You don’t have to like or agree with everything, but you’ll want to read it anyway. Two measly quid for 46 A4 pages, it’s a bargain, I tell ya !
WHEN THE STORM BREAKS by Robert Forbes & Eddie Stampton (self-published.) I know there are people out there who would prefer that this book didn’t exist at all, and would prefer that I hadn’t read it, let alone reviewed it. But, as the saying goes, Knowledge is Power. If I am to form an opinion on the likes of Skrewdriver, Blood & Honour and Rock Against Communism, I need to know the facts. So many stories and so much propaganda has been spread by both sides that it becomes difficult to know what is true and what is false. This book sets out to put things in a factual light and, indeed, the references are meticulously listed throughout. There are those who would argue that such a book shouldn’t be allowed to exist as some of the opinions expressed within (through the extensive interviews) could influence the readers to form extremist views, but let’s face it - the kinda people who form racist views are just as likely to be influenced by The Sun or The Daily Mail. So at which point would the book-burning begin ? No, I would prefer to be given the choice to read books like this and given the credit that I’m intelligent enough to form my own opinion. If you face this book with an objective approach, it certainly gives you the option. To blindly condemn it just because you don’t like the subject is certainly not the best way to confront it.
To begin with, although Eddie Stampton is involved with the Nationalist movement, Robert Forbes writes from a neutral position, intrigued by the subject but not involved in the dogma. This gives the writing a more-balanced approach than had it been written by either a supporter or someone on the opposing side. That being said, this is still something that most people would find abhorrent, and the propensity towards violence is particularly repellent. But once you read the book, you begin to realise that it’s something that has become an ogre far out of proportion to the reality. This is probably the first time that the story of Skrewdriver and their ilk has been set-out entirely factually, including the dates, the details and the people involved. The first thing you’ll notice is that there actually weren’t that many people in the ‘movement’ (in the UK, at least) and that the few times they did come to any kind of national attention (such as the Waterloo and Jubilee Gardens incidents) the numbers always seemed greater due to the anti-fascists and bystanders, making it much more of a spectacle but not accurately accounting for the amount of nationalists actually involved. The second thing is that, throughout the book (which covers a 15 year period) there are continuous tales of squabbling and in-fighting. It certainly doesn’t give the impression that there was a solid, common purpose, even within the relatively small numbers involved.
The other side of this story is, of course, the music itself. The book attempts to give a fair assessment of this and certainly doesn’t shy away from saying when a band were mediocre or, indeed, just plain bad (even some of the better known bands get called-out at times.) It’s also interesting that, although the Oi movement was blamed by many for promoting racist or neo-nazi views, most of the bands quickly moved away from that style towards more traditional Rock music – even ballads became an acceptable part of the albums !
Now, I’m not going to say that everything said in the book is bad, and in fact, a few people even talk some sense. Being patriotic, for example, is not necessarily the same as being racist or xenophobic, and taking pride in European culture does not mean that you have to deny everything else. But the problem is that such extreme views, as held by some in this book, end up making the chance of a proper debate on subjects such as immigration far more difficult. The liberal media automatically take the opposing viewpoint, making it a ‘for or against’ topic, and frankly, it really isn’t that simple.
But the real issue that comes across is that very few of the interviewees seem to hold clear, coherent beliefs apart from the option of blaming someone else. Skrewdriver may have sung ‘White Power for England, before it is too late’, but as Stewart Home has previously pointed out, England has always had, and no doubt will continue to have, a white-based ruling-class. Such posturing is completely ignoring the British hierarchy which will always be the root-cause of the problems faced by the common people in this country, regardless of how long they’ve lived here.
There are other themes that could be addressed (such as the obsession with Viking and male-warrior imagery, particularly poignant in the case of Nicky Crane, for example…) but really, where this book succeeds is that it puts all the facts together and, whether you support these beliefs or oppose them, you now have the opportunity to know what it was about and why it happened. You don’t have to be a Nazi to read this book, and you can make your own mind up at the end of it. Isn’t that what democracy is about ?
(PS - although the initial run of this book has already sold-out, a revised version is planned for publication by Feral House (USA) before the end of 2015…)
To begin with, although Eddie Stampton is involved with the Nationalist movement, Robert Forbes writes from a neutral position, intrigued by the subject but not involved in the dogma. This gives the writing a more-balanced approach than had it been written by either a supporter or someone on the opposing side. That being said, this is still something that most people would find abhorrent, and the propensity towards violence is particularly repellent. But once you read the book, you begin to realise that it’s something that has become an ogre far out of proportion to the reality. This is probably the first time that the story of Skrewdriver and their ilk has been set-out entirely factually, including the dates, the details and the people involved. The first thing you’ll notice is that there actually weren’t that many people in the ‘movement’ (in the UK, at least) and that the few times they did come to any kind of national attention (such as the Waterloo and Jubilee Gardens incidents) the numbers always seemed greater due to the anti-fascists and bystanders, making it much more of a spectacle but not accurately accounting for the amount of nationalists actually involved. The second thing is that, throughout the book (which covers a 15 year period) there are continuous tales of squabbling and in-fighting. It certainly doesn’t give the impression that there was a solid, common purpose, even within the relatively small numbers involved.
The other side of this story is, of course, the music itself. The book attempts to give a fair assessment of this and certainly doesn’t shy away from saying when a band were mediocre or, indeed, just plain bad (even some of the better known bands get called-out at times.) It’s also interesting that, although the Oi movement was blamed by many for promoting racist or neo-nazi views, most of the bands quickly moved away from that style towards more traditional Rock music – even ballads became an acceptable part of the albums !
Now, I’m not going to say that everything said in the book is bad, and in fact, a few people even talk some sense. Being patriotic, for example, is not necessarily the same as being racist or xenophobic, and taking pride in European culture does not mean that you have to deny everything else. But the problem is that such extreme views, as held by some in this book, end up making the chance of a proper debate on subjects such as immigration far more difficult. The liberal media automatically take the opposing viewpoint, making it a ‘for or against’ topic, and frankly, it really isn’t that simple.
But the real issue that comes across is that very few of the interviewees seem to hold clear, coherent beliefs apart from the option of blaming someone else. Skrewdriver may have sung ‘White Power for England, before it is too late’, but as Stewart Home has previously pointed out, England has always had, and no doubt will continue to have, a white-based ruling-class. Such posturing is completely ignoring the British hierarchy which will always be the root-cause of the problems faced by the common people in this country, regardless of how long they’ve lived here.
There are other themes that could be addressed (such as the obsession with Viking and male-warrior imagery, particularly poignant in the case of Nicky Crane, for example…) but really, where this book succeeds is that it puts all the facts together and, whether you support these beliefs or oppose them, you now have the opportunity to know what it was about and why it happened. You don’t have to be a Nazi to read this book, and you can make your own mind up at the end of it. Isn’t that what democracy is about ?
(PS - although the initial run of this book has already sold-out, a revised version is planned for publication by Feral House (USA) before the end of 2015…)
STONEAGE hanzine #6. (willycarroll@yahoo.com) Stoneage has acquired a near mythical status, in that I’ve known Willy for a few years but, although several reliable witnesses have claimed sightings, I had never actually seen any physical evidence of the alleged fanzine. But that has now all changed and I am no longer a sceptic. The truth is out there, and a damn fine read it is, too. Loads of generally short interviews, often concerning encounters with the Rolling Stones, with the likes of Walter Lure, Henry Rollins, Viv Albertine, Kid Congo, Sylvain Sylvain and Paul Simenon, plus more substantial interviews with James Williamson and Thurston Moore. The great thing is Willy’s easy-going style, more intent on swapping stories about favourite records and gigs than getting into meaningful lyrics of guitar specifications. It’s a lot of fun, the sorta fanzine you’ll read all the way to the back page. Trust me, this is a good one – get in touch as soon as possible.
FAILSAFE fanzine #12 (failsafezine@yahoo.com) Probably my favourite UK fanzine, this issue contains in depth interviews with The Fits, Anti-Establishment and veteran US band Don’t No, as well as all the usual, extensive reviews. What I like about it is that the interview subjects are chosen because they’re going to be interesting, rather than just a ‘big name’. Even if you’ve never heard of the band, the interview will be a great read because of the depth and detail it goes into. But it’s not just a trainspotting exercise, there’s plenty of humour and purpose behind it all. This is one of the few fanzines I will read from cover to cover and I can’t recommend it enough.
BOOK OF THE YEAR by TV Smith (Arima) Exactly what it says in the title – a document of every gig played by TV Smith (and a few days-off) during 2013. When you realise that amounts to over 120 performances and nearly 20 different countries, as far apart as Russia and Uruguay, then you’ll see that it involves a lot of experiences and a lot of entertaining material. TV writes in a very down-to-earth style, almost as if he’s just chatting on a one-to-one basis, so it’s very easy to be drawn into his world. It’s certainly not a life of luxury and he never holds any such pretentions. This is simply the story of an artist with a desire to take his music wherever he can. This is what he does. Fortunately, enough people appreciate his work and support his efforts. While it doesn’t always go according to plan, it’s great to see that he always comes out on the other side. It’s all about being true to yourself and not being sold-short and the book really captures the spirit of it all. Entertaining and inspiring, this should not be missed.
CLOTHES CLOTHES CLOTHES MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC BOYS BOYS BOYS by Viv Albertine (Faber & Faber) Having never been a huge fan of The Slits, I wasn’t even vaguely sure what to expect from this autobiography, but I’m pleased to say it’s surprisingly good and I think you would enjoy it even if you have no liking or knowledge of the music. Viv writes and tells her story in a very down to earth style but always remains intelligent, articulate and very perceptive. Admittedly, it may be easier to understand events in retrospect, but Viv does this without any pretensions or revisionism, which so often occurs in memoirs. Instead, she just sticks to the events and characters, describing how they went on to affect her emotionally or creatively. Whilst The Slits are now, quite rightly, considered feminist icons, and many of the people they were closely involved with have also reached similar cultural status, Viv is just as intent on focusing on her own frailties as much as her successes. In fact, one of the more interesting aspects of the book is how she dealt with her life post-Slits, returning to a more routine lifestyle and, again, she opens up as much about the low points as the high, which makes it much easier to relate to her as a real person. It’s an inspiring book and it leaves you with a sense of honesty and integrity. The tale of a normal person in an extraordinary life, perhaps ?
ANGER IS AN ENERGY by John Lydon (Simon & Schuster) Considering John Lydon’s current status as an alternative national treasure, and the fact that his first autobiography only dealt as far as his time in the Pistols, he’s well within his rights to release a second volume. He has had plenty of time and exploits since then, although that being said, the first 180 pages does cover much of the same ground again (albeit with plenty of new details.) But it’s from that point onwards that things start to get really interesting. He puts forward a pretty realistic theory concerning the Sid & Nancy deaths and then moves on to the development of PIL. The thing is, it was the chemistry between the original band members that created the volatile atmosphere necessary for them to produce the remarkable music they made together, but it also left them vulnerable to instability and, inevitably, their demise. Lydon’s claims that he was innocent in all of this don’t really ring true, as his creativity obviously fed from the same factors and that would indicate he must have been a part of the whole situation. There’s always going to be different points of view, but as this is Lydons’ book so we only get his. He also goes into detail about later and current PIL line-ups, plus the Sex Pistols reunions, which now seem to be at an end. There’s also a lot more information about his life with Nora and his various escapades away from music. At times, his memory does seem to be a little selective but overall it’s a fascinating read and, when you consider that this is a man who has had a huge social and cultural impact over the past few decades, you can only respect him and his opinions, even if you choose to disagree.
SPLITTING IN TWO by Robert Dellar (Unkant) Biographical work documenting Roberts’ exploits in the fields of Punk Rock, squatting and Mental Health Care. In particular, he goes into some depth concerning his involvement with the radical pressure group, Mad Pride, a group who continue to be as much about entertaining themselves as having their points heard. It’s interesting to hear the story from someone so closely involved, as it really explains their motives and describes the characters who made it so unique. It’s also of particular interest to me, and I’m sure this will be the same for many others, as so many of the events and places discussed cross over into my own timeline, allowing me to directly relate to many of the tales, even though I know little about the author himself. His life has many twists and turns, yet more to relate to, and it’s mostly written in a pretty easy-going narrative, although occasional lapses into a Stewart Home / Richard Allen style provide amusing breaks from the regular text. As a document of a life spent in an alternative environment, this is probably as real as it gets.
DEFIANT POSE fanzine #8 (PO Box 2544, London, NW6 3DF) I can’t believe I haven’t come across this before now, as it’s just the sort of fanzine that I really enjoy. This issue came to my attention due to the inclusion of a 7” featuring previously unreleased tracks from Rema Rema (see vinyl review elsewhere) but the fanzine itself is an excellent read. Like Failsafe, it concentrates more on lesser-known but highly-interesting bands whose stories deserve to be documented. A Rema Rema interview / retrospective features prominently, as well as the likes of Blood & Roses, Cervix, Heretics and The Stench (arguably the first all-female punk band, having performed even before The Slits !) An anarcho-situationist attitude is prevalent and makes for a great presentation. You really need to catch up on this publication as soon as you can.
ALICE COOPER – WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE by Dave Thompson (Omnibus) Whilst Michael Bruce and Alice himself have both published biographies, they’ve obviously been from a subjective viewpoint and not really got under the skin of the Alice Cooper phenomenon. This is the first book that attempts to do so and, to a great extent, it’s pretty successful. It’s the details concerning the original band that are most fascinating. As a band, opposed to the solo artist that the singer became, they really were quite remarkable, able to stir up controversy but always providing great music to justify the publicity. The deserved success of ‘Welcome To My Nightmare’ may have prompted the continuation of Alice Cooper as a solo performer, but sadly, none of his albums since that time matches the classics recorded by the original band, even though live shows have remained consistently entertaining. Rather than a biased press release, that’s what this book really illustrates and as such it’s a fascinating read. Unfortunately, nowadays Alice Cooper is thought of as the born-again Christian golf fanatic who plays alongside members Guns & Roses or Johnny Depp, but there was a time when the band, as a whole, were considered a threat to society whilst creating some of the best, most inventive rock music of the era. Trust me, you need to know about that band.
